Courtesy photo Family members of the late John G. Sheedy are shown at the University of Notre Dame, South Bend, Ind., at a reception honoring an endowment created by the family. Shown are (from left): Bill Sheedy, Patti Sheedy, Mary Sheedy and Dr. Dominic Vachon, the first John Sheedy director for Notre Dame’s Compassionate Care in Medicine.

The Sheedy family of Hollidaysburg endowed a gift to the University of Notre Dame in South Bend, Ind., in honor of John G. Sheedy, M.D, a lifelong Altoona-area resident, cherished family doctor and 1954 graduate of the University of Notre Dame.

Dr. Sheedy, who passed away in 2011, was a 1950 graduate of Altoona Catholic High School, practiced medicine in Altoona for close to 50 years and is survived by his wife Mary (Tim) and their seven children.

Dr. John G. Sheedy was committed to serving his many patients in any capacity, but his true passion was providing comfort.

According to the family, “his patients embraced him, not just as their physician, but also as a confidant, counselor and friend.”

The gift from Bill and Patti Sheedy, in honor of the late Dr. Sheedy, will continue the doctor’s legacy as a compassionate doctor by educating the next generations of medical professionals in his image.

With this gift, it’s their hope that Notre Dame is further empowered to effect positive change in the medical communities served by Notre Dame’s graduates.

A celebration was held on Notre Dame’s campus in September to announce the permanent endowment of a director position within the Notre Dame College of Science, in Dr. Sheedy’s name.

Dr. Dominic Vachon, who leads the Ruth Hillebrand Center for Compassionate Care in Medicine at Notre Dame, is the first John G. Sheedy Director for Notre Dame’s Compassionate Care in Medicine.

More than 50 individuals from the university and the community joined the Sheedy family in this celebration, including staff from Notre Dame’s College of Science, as well as a number of undergraduate students and local physicians who work closely on the programs supported by this gift.

The Sheedy family and Notre Dame announced this endowment, bringing together Dr. Sheedy’s and Notre Dame’s vision of how a career in medicine can be a healing, unifying and enlightening presence in the world.

Dr. Mary Galvin, William K. Warren Foundation Dean of the College of Science, opened the celebration by reading a letter written by the Rev. John I. Jenkins, C.S.C., president of the University of Notre Dame, to the Sheedy family in recognition of their generosity to the university.

Dr. Galvin then offered her

own welcoming remarks and words of gratitude, followed by a few words by Dr. Dominic Vachon, The John G. Sheedy director of the Ruth Hillebrand Center for Compassionate Care in Medicine, on the work of the center and the impact of this gift.

Bill Sheedy, 1990 alum of Notre Dame, then provided a reflection on his father’s legacy.